Combination lock-key.



A. MUSCARELLA. COMBINATION LOCK KEY. APPLICATION FILED OCT-15, I914.

' Patented Au 3,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ill/VENTOP A TTORNEY A. MuscA-RELLA. COMBINATION 'LocK KEY. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15; 19M.

LMQ WHW Patented Aug. 3,1915,

\ 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- (7 2w WITNESSES? 'W /v!/Ivr0/2 M Q BY A 7701?!!! E Y I ments in Combination Lock-Keys, of which COMBINATION LOCK-KEY.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. a, rare.

Application filed October 15, 1914. Serial No. 866,745.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that/I, ANTONIO MUsoA- RELLA, a subject of the'King of Italy, resid ing at the borough of Manhattan, clty, county, and State of New York, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improve the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawmgs.

This invention relates to improvements in keys for looks and particularly to improve ments in permutation or combination lock keys; that is, a lock-key which can be engaged with the lock only after the combination of the key has been solved.

An object of this invention is to prov de a lock-key of the class just referred to which will be simple in construction, comparatively cheap in manufacture and efiicient in operation and use.

, Another object of this invention is to provide a lock-key of the kind just described in which the key may be readily detachable from the other parts of the mechanism, whereby an added safeguard is obtained.

In the drawing illustrating the principle of this invention and the best mode now known to me of applying that principle, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of my new combination lock-key; Fig. 2 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow B of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line AA of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail showing the knob-spindle, the key detachably secured thereto and the sleeve mounted on the spindle; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are an elevation, a side view and a plan, respectively, of the ringsupport; Fig. 8 is an elevation of the ringseparator; Fig. 9 is a central vertical section of the ring-separator; Fig. 10 is an elevation of an indicatorring and a stopring mounted therein; Fig. 11 is an eleva-' tion of a stop-ring; Fig. 12 is an elevation, partly in section of a modified form of my new loclokey; and Fig. 13 is an elevation of the base-member shown in Fig. 12.

The base-member a is cup-shaped and is inserted in a recess 6 formed in the door a. This base-member a is formed with an annular flange d from which projects forwardly a circular series of pins e and near the pins 6 there are inscribed a series of numbers (such as the digits) and a series of letters (as A, B, and so on). In a recess 6 formed in the side of the door 0 opposite the basenember a, there is mounted the lock proper lugs 0 formed on part or barrel 2? of f, which may be of any suitable type and which is provided with the bolt 9. By means of screws h the lock proper f is fastened to the back or bottom 2' of the cupshaped base-member a. This bottom e is formed with a recess or depression 7' and with a circular hole is near the center of the latter. In this depression-j there is, fitted the rectangular base m of a ring-support m having a hollow cylinder or barrel m" that projects from the base m. This barrel m" is formed with a lengthwise-extending slot m and the base m is formed with a recess or notch mi in line with this slot m One of the walls of the slot m" is formed with a pair of notches a. By means of screws a the base we is fastened to the base-member a. From the cylindrical surface of the barrel m there project teeth or lugs o; The barrel m of the ring-support m is adapted to receive the slotted cylindrical portion or barrel p of a ring-separator q; and from one ofthe walls 7* of the slot r" in the cylindrical part or barrel 39 there project teeth 1' which fit into the notches '12, formed in one of the walls of the slot m in the ring-support m. The ring-separator g is formed with an annular-head or flange g which bears against the outer end of the barrel m of the ring-support m... In the particular form shown 1n the drawings, there are provided three indicator rings 8 on the outer cylindrical surface of which are inscribed a series of numerals (as the digits) and a series of letters (as A, B and so on), these numerals and letters corresponding to the numerals and letters inscribed upon the circular flange cl of the base-member a. Each indicator-ring s is internally notched, as shown at s; and each notch s is adapted to receive and hold snugly a lug or tooth t projecting from the stop-ring 2,, which is formed with a recess 25. These rings 5 are mounted upon the ring-support m and normally are heldapart or separated by the the latter and by the lugs or teeth 1" which project from the cylindrical part 19 of the lung-separator 9. To each of the indicator-rings 8 there is fastened a cylinder u, which conceals and shields the outer cylindrical inscribed surface of theindicator-ring s; and each of these rings a is provided with a tongue or lip u by means of which the indicator-rings s (and the stoprings t) may be turned. The cylindrical the ring-separator g which is formed with a series of teeth '21 and through which passes the spindle 'w the outer end of which is formed with a knob and the inner end of which is slotted at y to receive the butt end of a key 2.-

r The sleeve v lies between a collar w formed on the spindle w and a washer w" mounted on the latter; the washer w" is held in place by a pin w". The teeth or lugs a) lie in a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve '0,- and these teeth 4: are adapted to enter the slot 7' in the cylindri cal part 2. of the ring-separator g. Normally the stop-rings t prevent the spindle w and its attached key 2 from being forced inwardly into engagement with the lock proper f; but, when the combination of the lock has been solved and the stop-rings t have been turned to their releasing position, the recesses t" or notches are in alinement with one another and with the teeth '0 on the sleeve 4:; hence, in this position of the stoprings t, the spindle w and its attached key a may be forced inwardly, whereby the key a is engaged with the lock 7. By means of a screw-pin a, the key a is held detachably in the slot y, and, by loosening this screw-pin z, the key. 2 may be readily removed from the slot y and taken away by the owner,

- afterwhich the sleeve 1) and spindle w may be replaced. The key a is thus made detachable from the spindle w and this is an add ed safeguard'and an important feature of this invention, since the owner of the house can take with him the key a and, even if the combination of the lock be solved by a burglar or other would-be intruder, he cannot unlock the door, since the owner has the key with him.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 12, the cup-shaped base-member a is dispensed with and there is placed upon the outside of the door a'disk-like indicator-plate 2 having a circular series of pins e projecting from its face 2'. This disk 2 is formed with a recess 3 in which fits the rectangular base m of the ring-support m; and, by means of screws h, the lock proper f is fastened to the plate 2 and the rectangular base m. Furthermore, the cylinders 11. are omitted in this modification. and L-shaped fingers u" are fastened directly to the indicator-rings s. This modified form of my invention is particularly well adapted for use where the wood of the door is thin and does not permit of the formation of a recess 6, such as is indicated in Fig. 1. The circular series of 'studs 6 are provided-in order that the combination may be readily solved in the dark; that is, for example, in the night time when the characters inscribed on the base-member cannot be seen. ,When the key a is connected with the lock proper f, the knob :12 can be used as an ordinary knob.

.the rings or cylinders u, the indicator-rings s and the stop-rings t are turned and the slots t" in the latter are brought into alinement so that the teeth of can-without hindrance be pushed therethrough. Hence, the operator now seizes the knob 00 and presses inwardly the sleeve '0 and the spindle w and thereby forces the key 2 into the lock proper f, which is shown merely conventionally in the drawings and may be of any ordinary construction. By turning the knob :12 the bit a of the key a is made to actuate the mechanism (not shown) of the lock 7 and thereby to withdraw the bolt 9 thereof, as will be understood readily by all skilled in this art.

I claim:

1. A permutation lock-key comprising a ring-support formed with lugs and with a slot one wall of which is formed with recesses; a slotted ring-separator mounted in said ring-support and formed with teeth which engage in said recesses; apertured stop-rings mounted on said ring-support and separated by said teeth and lugs; indicator-rings within which said stop-rings are carried; a lock-operating spindle; and a sleeve mounted on said spindle and formed with teeth adapted to pass through the apertures in said stop-rings when said apertures are brought into alinement.

2. A permutation lock-key comprising a ring-support; apertured stop-rings mounted on said ring-support; means for holding said stop-rings separated from one another; a lock-operating spindle; and a sleeve loosely mounted on said spindle and formed with teeth adapted to pass through the apertures in said stop-rings, when said apertures are brought into alinement.

3. The combination with a lock proper; of a permutation lock-key including a spindle; a key fitted to said lock and carried by said spindle, said key being readily detachable-from the latter; and permutation devices for preventing said spindle to be apertured meatae g t1 on said rings; a lock-operating device; and a a sleeve mounted on said device and formed with teeth adapted to pass through the apertures in the first-named rings, when the apertures therein are brought into alinement.

5. The combination with a lock proper; of a permutation lock-key comprising a base-member fastened to the lock proper; a

said base-member; a

ring-support carried by and rings mounted lock-operating device;

on said ring-support and arranged normally.

to prevent the engagement of said device With the lock proper.

6. The combination with a lock proper; of a permutation lock-key comprising a base'member fastened to the lock proper; a

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the ring-support carried by said base-member; a longitudinally-movable spindle; a key fitted to the lock proper and detachably fastened to said spindle; and rings mounted on said ring-support and arranged normally to prevent the engagement of said key with the lock proper.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at the borough of Manhattan, city, county and State of New York, this 8th day of October, A. D., 1914, in the presence of the two undersigned Witnesses.

JAMES HAMILTON, M. E. WoAnnELL.

"Commissioner of Patents,

ashington, D. 0. 

